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Stranded in Ukraine, Indian students share their travails amid Russian invasion

According to reports, more than 20,000 Indian students are still stranded in the war-torn country.

New Delhi: With diplomacy giving way to full-blown battle between Russia & Ukraine, many Indian students started flying out of the European country for few days now while many others remain stranded in the war zone.

On Tuesday night, about 200 medical students returned back home while others had booked tickets for same. As Russian attacked Ukraine today, all flights have been cancelled & air spaces remain barred. According to reports, more than 20,000 Indian students are still stranded in the war-torn country. Back home, their panic-stricken parents are anxiously awaiting for their return while they are running from pillar to post to escape the country.

In light of Ukraine’s closed air spaces, the government is contemplating other ways to evacuate Indian nationals.

As Russian forces bombarded key cities, hordes of vehicles were seen on streets scrambling to leave Kyiv & move towards Western parts of the country.

Air Ticket rates double for India-Ukraine travel

Those who managed to come earlier had to buy air tickets at inflated prices.

A ticket which costed around Rs 25,000 for a flight to India, was sold for Rs 50,000-Rs 60,000/-, said one of the students who returned recently.

Indian students reached airport this morning, to fly out of the country but as flights got cancelled, they had to retreat to safer places. One of the students said that the Embassy told them to return back to places they came from.

“Even returning to safe locations is a humongous task as all modes of transport of people are filled. Locals are lined up on streets. How do we go back?”, said one student.

The students were told by the Embassy that some alternate arrangements was being made to house them at some locations.

Hide behind some shield when siren rings

The students were also told by the Indian Embassy to take refuge at some safer locations, preferably Metro Stations or any underground place in the college campus.

“We were told to take cover and hide ourselves whenever siren rings,” told a stranded student.

Students

Ukraine is frequented by students from across the globe, mostly for medical education. Many Indian students are enrolled in different medical colleges of the European country.

The country is a popular destination for Indian students pursuing medical, dental & nursing courses as fees account for a quarter of fees of what is charged in private medical colleges in India.